Abstract

Objective: To investigate the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in Mirounga leonina (M. leonina) Linnaeus from Elephant Island, Antarctica. Methods: The animals were anesthetized, restrained, measured, weighed and had their blood collected by venipuncture of intervertebral lumbar epidural vein. Blood samples were collected from 102 individuals. Indirect hemagglutination and serum dilution at a proportion of 1:25 was used for specific immunoglobulin G anti-T. gondii detection. Results: Only one (0.98%) specimen, a newly weaned calf, was seropositive. Conclusions: This study is the highest serological survey for antibody detection against T. gondii in M. leonina. The results suggest a low level of exposure to T. gondii, probably due to the absence of felids in the study area. The seropositivity presented by the elephant seal may be related to the presence of oocysts in water or cysts in their preys. Despite being reported the presence of the parasite in fish and molluscs, there are no records of tissue cysts or oocysts in squid or fish of the diet of M. leonina. Thus, further parasitological studies focused on preys of elephant seals are needed for a better understanding of infection of M. leonina by T. gondii.

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